Office Of The Mayor
Thomas M. McMahon


PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

For More Information:
Ginny Hand, 610-655-6320

PUBLIC SAFETY IS KEY ISSUE IN MAYOR MCMAHON'S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

For immediate release/January 30, 2006: In his annual State of the City address given today, Mayor Tom McMahon focused on the critical issues of crime and public safety as the key challenges facing the city as it continues to move forward with economic development and rehabilitating neighborhoods in Reading.

Mayor McMahon said that “Until the perception and reality of public safety is improved, we cannot continue to make great strides in these arenas. While my administration is continuing to make changes and move forward in financial accountability, working hard to bring new employment to the Greater Reading area and improve neighborhoods, we need measurable, dramatic improvement in our crime statistics.”

The Mayor is relying for assistance from many populations within the community. Key among them is newly hired Chief of Police William Heim who will be asked to begin his new term in the City of Reading by conducting a comprehensive review of crime fighting in Reading by examining the deployment of both manpower and financial resources and offering recommendations on new initiatives to reduce crime. This review will be completed within sixty days of his taking office.

Mayor McMahon continues to enlist the citizens of Reading “the majority I believe, who see the possibilities for improvement” to help to make Reading “the comeback city.” By obeying our laws, by assisting law enforcement when necessary, by improving their neighborhoods and communicating positive ideas for change for the better of the entire city, this wide cross section of the community can help meet the goals of the McMahon administration to make Reading the model for other inner cities across Pennsylvania.